Hall of Fame

The Glengarry Sports Hall of Fame marked its 40th anniversary last week, with five new inductions. We have the details, and photos, in the Aug. 22 issue of The Glengarry News. For more images from the evening festivities, visit this online gallery.

Next week's issue of The Glengarry News features a story about the late Gary Shepherd, one of five inductees this year to the Glengarry Sports Hall of Fame. In this photo below, he's seen, at left, with a team of young hockey players.

In August, the Glengarry Sports Hall of Fame will celebrate 40 years of recognizing the county's athletes and teams. This week's edition of The Glengarry News features the first of five biographies of this year's inductees.

Tickets for the Aug. 15 dinner and ceremony at the Glengarry Sports Palace in Alexandria go on sale this weekend, available from all board members, as well as from Auld Kirktown, Loiselle Sports Plus, and the Hall in Maxville. Cost is $40. After Aug. 9, the cost will be $50.

Among the notable events from last week's Glengarry Sports Hall of Fame dinner and celebration, 2017 inductee Serge Vaillancourt (seen in photo below at right) reunited with his former Alexandria Fastball League teammates.

The Glengarry Sports Hall of Fame held its annual celebration of the finest in county athletics last week in Maxville, and we have full coverage of the festivities in the Aug. 23 edition of The Glengarry News.

As part of the evening, 16 graduating high school athletes were recognized.

1. Anaick Besner: Le Relais

Anaick's most memorable moment in sports was his last provincial Franco hockey tournament of his high school career this past spring. From first being named the captain of the hockey team to then having a mishap in the first game of the tournament and going the hospital for some stitches. They lost by only one goal in the semi-finals to a much larger school. They went that far in the tournament thanks to the strength and dedication of the players on the team and the unmatched coaching ability from their coach Dominique Decoeur.

His sporting role model is taken from 3 players: the leadership and skating ability of Erik Karlsson, the defensive game and hitting ability of Dion Phaneuf, and finally the shooting ability and shot-blocking ability of Shea Weber.

2. Catherina Blair: Casselman

Catherina’s most memorable moment in sports was winning her first dance trophy at the Montreal Highland Dance competition.

Her sports role model is Joanie Rochette because after her mom passed away she still skated and did the best she could. She learned that no matter what emotions you have, for that four-minute dance, or whatever other sport, you need to give 100%.

3. Cameron Brodie: Glengarry

Cameron's most memorable moment is in 2015 when she was in Grade 10 at Glengarry District High School. She went to Windsor with the senior soccer team for the OFSAA ‘A’ finals. During the final game, on her 16th birthday, she got the winning goal allowing them to win the gold medal on a score of 2-1. She also ended up being the top scorer for the tournament.

Cameron's sporting role model is Jessie Fleming, a young player who is making such an offensive difference on the Canadian women’s soccer team.

4. Chelsea Cayer: Char-Lan

Chelsea's most memorable moment was winning EOSSAA hockey and attending OFSAA in Kenora.

Her sporting role model is Marie-Philip Poulin.

5. Chloe Devine: Le Relais

Chloe's most memorable sporting moment was being a member of the first team at Le Relais to win an OFSSA 'A' soccer championship gold in 2017.

Her sporting role model is Cassie Campbell who she met when she was 7 years old.

6. Emma Hardy: Glengarry

Emma's most memorable moment was winning OFSAA gold in 2015 with the Glengarry Gaels.

Her sporting role model is PK Subban.

7. Lara Jeaurond: Holy Trinity

Lara's most memorable moment in sports was winning a bronze medal at provincials in Waterloo with the Cornwall Vikings Volleyball team this year.

Lara's sporting role model is her brother.

8. Cameron MacDonald: Glengarry

Cameron's most memorable moment was attending the OFSSA soccer championships in 2016 with his Gaels teammates.

His sporting role model is his dad Jamie who coached him and drove him to all his games throughout his sporting career.

9. David MacMaster: Glengarry

David's most memorable sporting moment was going to OFSAA with the GDHS soccer team.

His sporting role models are his mom and dad and his brothers.

10. Angus McRae: Char-Lan

Angus's most memorable moment in sports was beating Glengarry DHS in the senior boys soccer final to win the SD&G championship this year.

His sporting role model is Russell Martin of the Toronto Blue Jays

11. Mackayla Petrie: Char-Lan

Mackayla's most memorable moment in sports was competing in her first ever wakeboard pro division. It was an overwhelming experience riding against some of the riders she looks up to in her sport.

Mackayla's sporting role models are athletes who are dedicated, compete at high levels, push their abilities, and enjoy the sport they love.

12. Brennan Seguin: Char-Lan

Brennan's most memorable moment in sports was in pole vault, when he jumped a height of 4.65 at a club meet in Windsor. It is a significant standard in the sport. It had been his goal for a year, working very hard to achieve it.

Brennan's sporting role model is Olympic pole vaulter Sam Kendricks, a disciplined athlete of character at the top of his sport.

13. Jenna Seguin: Le Relais

Jenna has two most remarkable moments in sports: winning the Franco school hockey tournament with the boys and winning girls OFSSA soccer gold in grade 12.

Jenna's sporting role model is Saku Koivu because he is a determined athlete who beat cancer and kept playing the sport that he loved.

14. Josh Stephens: Holy Trinity

Josh's most memorable moment in sports was winning the U19 Division 1 Ontario Cup with Ottawa Next Level AAA.

Josh's role model is Lebron James for his will to win.

15. Alexandre Theoret: Le Relais

Alexandre's most memorable moment in sports was the first football game he played when he scored a touchdown.

His sporting role model is Matt Fraser, the CrossFit champion for 2016.

16. Lukas Willems: Tagwi

Lukas's most memorable sporting moment was qualifying for the provincial tournament for bowling. His team was the underdog since they had just enough players to participate, including one teammate who has autism and struggles at times with the fast pace of competition. During the last game to decide who advanced to the provincial competition, their teammate bowled his best game ever. He got four strikes in a row, and everyone in the crowd was cheering him on and chanting his name. His ever-positive energy helped the rest of the team perform better and helped them have fun while playing. In the end, they won the tournament because of him and went on to represent the Cornwall area for bowling.

Lukas's sporting role model is Cristiano Ronaldo, one of the best soccer players ever who also gives back to the community and donates to children’s hospitals.

The 2017 high school athletes honoured by the Hall of Fame include, standing in front from left, Catherina Blair of Maxville, Alexandre Theoret of Alexandria, Anaick Besner of Glen Nevis, Lara Jeaurond of Loch Garry, Jenna Séguin of Lancaster, Chloe Devine of Bainsville, Cameron MacDonald of Alexandria, David MacMaster of Alexandria, Cameron Brodie of Fassifern, Emma Hardy of Maxville, Chelsea Cayer of Williamstown, Mackayla Petrie of Bainsville, Angus McRae of Williamstown, and Lukas Willems of Maxville. In back are Josh Stephen of South Glengarry and Brennan Seguin of Martintown. (Margaret Caldbick photo)

The July 26 issue of The Glengarry News includes a feature story about the late Andre Poirier and his 2017 induction into the Glengarry Sports Hall of Fame. The junior B Glens recently posted this archive photo onto Facebook.

Five incredible inductees to the Glengarry Sports Hall of Fame will be recognized for their talents and relentless determination in Glengarry sports and for their help in putting the county on the map.

Tickets for the 39th Annual Glengarry Sports Hall of Fame Induction Dinner on August 16 are now available at Maxville and Alexandria Scotiabank branches, as well as at the Glengarry Celtic Music Hall of Fame. Tickets will also be available for purchase at the Heritage Hall in Williamstown, on August 5-6.

Tickets for the always sold-out event, this year being held in Maxville, are $40 before August 10 and $50 after that.

The head table will include Serge Vaillancourt, Jean-Guy Ractliffe, Edwin Hay, Kyle (representing the late Gerald Blair), and a representative for the late Andre Poirier. The junior head table, which showcases graduating high school athletes, will be introduced by Babs MacLeod.